Coincidental vehicle steering column and floor shift lock

ABSTRACT

Coincidental locking apparatus for an automotive vehicle steering column and a floor mounted transmission gear shift selector includes a manually operable steering column lock device operative to prevent rotation of the vehicle steering shaft, a device within the floor shift operative to latch the selector member thereof in a predetermined condition of the transmission such as &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Park,&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and a flexible cable interconnection between the two locking devices operative to prevent locking of the steering shaft until &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Park&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; is selected in the floor shift and further operative to hold or lock said floor shift latched in such selected condition upon manual locking of the steering column lock device.

United States Patent Dan R. Kimberlin Saginaw;

Floyd A. Schluckebier, F rankenmuth; Henry N. Fjerstad, Jr., Saginaw;Frederick C. Riflelinacher, Saginaw, all of, Mich. 879,866

Nov. 25, 1969 July 6, 1971 General Motors Corporation Detroit, Mich.

[72] inventors [21] Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee[54] COINCIDENTAL VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN 56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,147,613 2/1939 Sandberg 70/239 3,490,255 1/1970 Wightet al. 70/252 FOREIGN PATENTS 85,976 3/1936 Sweden 70/239 PrimaryExaminer-Albert G. Craig, Jr. Al!0rneysW. E. Finken and D. L. EllisABSTRACT: Coincidental locking apparatus for an automotive vehiclesteering column and a floor mounted transmission gear shift selectorincludes a manually operable steering column lock device operative toprevent rotation of the vehicle steering shaft, a device within thefloor shift operative to latch the selector member thereof in a.predetermined condition of the transmission such as Park, and a flexiblecable interconnection between the two locking devices operative toprevent locking of the steering shaft until Park" is selected in thefloor shift and further operative to hold or look said floor shiftlatched in such selected condition upon manual locking of the steeringcolumn lock device.

COINCIDENTAIL VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN AND FLOOR SHIFT LOCK Thisinvention relates to coincidental lock systems for the controls ofautomotive vehicles and more particularly to improved coincidental locksystems for automotive vehicle steering columns, ignition controls andfloor mounted transmission gear shift selectors.

A general feature of this invention is that it provides an improvedcoincidental lock system for automotive vehicle steering columnassemblies and for floor mounted transmission gear shift selectorassemblies mounted in spaced relation to the steering column within thevehicle passenger compartment, the system including distinct lockingdevices within the column and the spaced floor shift which may be lockedsimultaneously and which are further interrelated so that suchsimultaneous locking requires the preliminary operation of selecting apredetermined operating range of the vehicle power transmission in thefloor shift.

Another feature of this invention resides in the interconnection of suchlocking devices through the mechanically simple but effective means of aflexible cable or the like and in the ar rangement of the lock device ofthe floor shift such that mere movement of its selector to theaforementioned predetermined position causes latching engagement of thelock device therein and further transfers movement through theinterconnecting means to the steering column look so as to negateoperation of blocking apparatus in the steering column lock normallypreventing movement of the steering column lock device from unlocked tolocked condition.

Yet a further feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of theblocking apparatus in the steering column lock to operate in concertwith the interconnecting means such that once the steering column lockis actuated to its locking position, the blocking apparatus and theinterconnecting means serve to provide positive resistance to movementof the floor shift selector locking device out of its latching positionunder forced movement of the selector member out of its predeterminedlocked position.

In addition to the use of a mechanically simple flexible cable controlinterconnecting the separate spaced locking devices in the floor shiftand steering column, other features of the invention relate tosimplified construction and relationship of parts distinguishing frompast automotive coincidental locking arrangements requiring complicatedconnecting apparatus between these control devices.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the following specification and from the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interior of anautomotive vehicle body including a steering column and a floor shiftprovided with coincidental locking apparatus according to thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially broken away view taken generally alongthe plane indicated by line 2-2 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the planeindicated by line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. d is a sectional view taken generally along the plane indicatedbyline 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. l showing the floorshift locking device in unlocked condition; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 5 showing the locking devices ofthe steering column and the floor shift in locked condition.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an automotivevehicle body interior is illustrated and includes a generallyconventional steering column control apparatus designated generally as2. The steering column includes a steering wheel d which is connectedsuitably with the usual longitudinally extending steering shaft whichserves to connect the steering wheel to the vehicle steering gear in thevehicle engine compartment, not shown. As is known, such steering shaftis conventionally rotatabiy mounted within the steering column as bylower bearing means fixed within the mast jacket portion n thereof andalso by hearing means situated within an upper stationary housingportion of diecast or similar construction, designated h, mounted atopthe mast jacket 6 below the steering wheel. The housing portion alsotypically supports the usual vehicle turn signal apparatus controlled bya lever lll.

Mounted in spaced relation within the passenger compartment of thevehicle is a floor shift console 12, such console normally comprising aboxlike housing extending longitudinally between the two forwardpassenger seats within the compartment, the housing being designated 14and suitably rotatably mounting therewithin a floor shift selectormember or lever l6. As is well-known, the lever in is conventionallyconnected by linkage to a control lever on the vehicle powertransmission apparatus, not shown, so that rotation of the selector in alongitudinal vertical plane of the vehicle between the several operatingpositions thereof causes selection of corresponding operating ranges ofthe transmission. In vehicles produced by the assignee of the presentinvention as well as by others, such operating ranges for automatictransmissions typically include "Park", Reverse", Neutral, Drive,Intermediate and Low'in sequence from a most forward operating positionof the selector member to a most rearward. As the specific constructionand connection details attendant to the selector lever lltl are of noconsequence with respect to the present invention, they are accordinglynot shown nor described.

With reference now to the coincidental locking arrangement of thepresent invention and with specific reference to FIG. 2, stationaryhousing portion El also serves to mount therewithin the steering columnportion of the coincidental lock apparatus; i.e., a locking device forsteering shaft designated Ed. The locking and actuating members of thisportion of the invention accord in most respects with that disclosed inUS. application Ser. No. 691,817 of Wight et al., filed Dec. l 1967, nowU.S. Pat. No. 3,490,255, dated Jan. 20, i970, and assigned to theassignee of the present invention. in accordance with that disclosure,the steering shaft designated iii, is adapted to be locked by ashiftable lock bolt 2i slidabie in a passage of housing portion iibetween locked and unlocked positions. Lock bolt 20 cooperates with akeeper plate 2 lwhich is suitably nonrotatably connected with thevehicle steering shaft upper portion as by splines. The keeper platecarries a series of peripheral notches 26 adapted each to receive thetapered head 22 of the lock bolt upon movement of the latter from theunlocked to the locked position thereof to effectively prevent rotationof the steering shaft lid and steering wheel d to control the vehicle.

Lock bolt B ll is actuated between its locked and unlocked positionswith respect to keeper plate 24 by actuating means including a manuallycontrolled cylinder lock assembly 28 of generally conventional natureincluding a casing 30 fixed within a bore of stationary housing portion8 and mounting therewithin for rotation between a plurality of controlpositions a core, indicated at 32. As is well known, the core 32 islockable against rotation from a Locl4." position by means of projectionof a tumbler-operated sidebar 33 receivable in a slot of casing Sillwhen a suitably coded key is withdrawn from the tumblers. Insertion ofsuch key withdraws the sidebar from the casing to permit rotation of thecore 32 from such locked position to any number of positions operativeto establish selection of respective ignition circuits of the vehiclewithin a switch assembly connected with the core 32, as will bedescribed.

Rotation of core 32 is operative through suitable drive connection torotate an actuating sector 34 meshingly engaged with an actuating rackmember 36 likewise reciprocably mounted in a bore or passage of housingportion h. Core 32 is also operatively connected as above described withan ignition switch assembly Bil mounted upon mast jacket 6, FIG. 1, andelectrically connected to the various vehicle ignition, starter motorand other control circuits, such operative connection being establishedthrough sector 36 and rack 36 by a shiftable operating rod 40.Accordingly, in the Lock" position of lock cylinder 28, which is shownin MG. 6, as well as in an Off" position of the assembly shown in FIG.2, rack 36 and operating rod 40 are placed in positions interrupting thevehicle igni tion circuit, while selected rotation of core 32 by the keymoving these parts leftwardly from the position of FIG. 2 operates toestablish various positions in ignition switch assembly 38 closing theignition circuit either alone or simultaneously with the vehicle startermotor circuit. Such positions are indicated in FIG. 4 with reference tothe end of rod 40.

To move lock bolt 20 between its locked and unlocked positions, rack 36is provided with an car 42 extending into embracing relation with areduced diameter portion of the lock bolt and abutted with one headedend thereof, with a coil compression spring 34 being seated between theear and a shoulder of the bolt. Accordingly, actuating rotation withinlock cylinder assembly 28 serves also to move the lock bolt through avariety of positions, specifically between the locked condition of FIG.6 occurring in the extreme Lock position of core 32 shown in FIG. 6, anda series of unlocked positions beginning with that shown in FlG. 2corresponding to Off position of core 32.

Turning now to the transmission floor shift console structure 12 seenbest in FIGS. 1, and 6, the same is provided with a locking device forselector lever 16 including a generally fork-type latch bolt 66pivotally mounted on housing 314 by a pivot stud 48. The bolt includes ahooked end 50 adapted for retaining engagement with a keeper pin 62projecting laterally from selector lever 16, such engagement beingestablished in the Park" position of the lever. Upon movement of thelever about its pivot stud 5 on the console housing from any of theother operative positions toward Park", a cam roller 56 fixed to thelever engages a follower surface 58 on bolt 46 to rotate itcounterclockwise from its unlatched position shown in FIG. 5 to alatched position, shown in FIG. 6, wherein hooked end 50 is latched overkeeper 52. As there seen, forced clockwise rotation of selector lever 16and keeper 52 from the latched position results in forced engagementbetween the latter and hooked end 50 in a direction passing throughpivot stud 48 so that no substantial rotative force about the latter isexerted on the bolt.

Latch bolt 46 is operatively connected with the steering column lockdevice described above through means ofa pushpull control cable assembly60 having one end portion of the spirally wound sheath thereof attachedat 62 to console housing 14, the core 643 of the cable assembly beingfixedly secured at 66 to latch bolt 46. Cable assembly 60 is strungthrough housing 14 and suitably behind the vehicle instrument panel soas to be mounted on mast jacket 6 and extend upwardly for connection tothe steering column lock device, all as seen in FIG. 1.

As shown best in H6. 2, the other end of cable assembly 66 has itssheath portion attached at 68 to stationary housing portion 8 and thecore 64 is fixedly secured to an arm '72 of a blocking member 70. Suchblocking member is generally of hooklike configuration pivotally mountedat 74 by one leg thereof to the housing portion 3 and including on itsother leg a first blocking shoulder 76. A coil tension spring '78 ishooked suitably over the arm 72 of the blocking member and attached atits other end to housing portion 8 to bias the blocking member clockwiseto a first or blocking position wherein blocking portion 76 lies withinthe path of upward movement of a pin projection 80 fixed to rack 36. Pintill may be separately formed on the rack, or as seen best in H6. 4, bean extension of the operating rod 40.

To describe now an operational sequence for the coincidental lockingarrangement for the steering column and floor shift console lockingdevices, it is assumed that the vehicle is being operated with theselector lever l6 located in some forward or reverse drive range, andwith the lock cylinder sembly 28 conditioned in the On" positionindicated in FIG.

4. in these conditions, the selector lever is unlatched as indicatedgenerally in HQ. 5, the lock bolt 20 is in an unlocked position and theblocking member is in its first blocking position, all as indicated inH6. 2, under the bias of spring 73 and such bias transfers through core64 of the cable assembly to hold floor shift latch bolt 46 in theunlatched position. The pin on rack 36 is of course located slightlyleftwardly of the position shown in MG. 2, with rack 36 so located inOn".

When the operator desires to stop the vehicle and place the controlsthereof in an inoperative and locked condition, rotation in the lockcylinder assembly 28 in a direction toward Lock position moves the rack36 rightwardly first to the Off position shown in FIG. 2. The ignitionswitch 38 thereby interrupts the ignition circuit to stop the vehicleengine and simultaneously pin 66 is brought into blocking engagementwith shoulder '76. This blocking shoulder is so arranged that furtherforced rotation by the operator in lock cylinder assembly 2h tending tomove the rack 36 rightwardly full to Lock" is positively prevented bythe engagement between the pin and such shoulder. Such further rotationmay only be accomplished by removing blocking member 74)counterclockwise by the preliminary step of moving floor shift selectorlever B6 to the predetermined transmission condition of lPark. Thus,counterclockwise movement of selector lever 16 from the driving positionof MG. 6 engaging cam roller 56 with surface 58 of the floor shift latchbolt 46 moves the latter counterclockwise to its latched condition. Thisin turn shifts or pulls core 6 of the control cable assembly 60 in adirection moving the blocking member 76 counterclockwise against theaction of spring 78 to its unblocking position, shown in FIG. 6.Accordingly, with shoulder 76 removed, lock cylinder assembly 23 maythen be further rotated to the Lock" position shown in FIG. 6 and thecoded key removed therefrom to extend the locking sidebar 33 andestablish locking in all of the components of the coincidental lockassembly.

In this locked position, it is seen that rack 36 is so located as tojuxtapose pin 80 thereof against a further blocking shoulder 82 ofblocking member 70. This juxtaposition effectively prevents forcedmovement of floor shift selector lever 16 from its selected Park"condition since return of the latch bolt 46 to unlatched position underthe tension of extended spring 78 is prevented by engagement of shoulder82 on the pin. Also, while forced rotation of the bolt 46 by selector i6is primarily resisted by the application of such force directly throughpivot 58 as indicated in the drawing, pin 80 resists any pushing of core64 which may for some reason result form such forces. Thus, any forcedclockwise rotation of the lever from the position of FIG. 6 tending toforce latch bolt 4-6 clockwise seeks to push core 64- in a direction toin turn firmly engage the blocking member 78 against pin bill. This isespecially effective were the flexible cable to be replaced by a moresolid connecting linkage subject to direct transfer of a pushing motion.Accordingly, in the position of the parts shown in FIG. 6, not only isthe lock cylinder control for the ignition switch 38 fully looked aswell as the steering shaft lock bolt 20 suitably engaged in orengageable with a notch 26 of keeper plate 24, but additionally selectorlever 16 is positively locked in Park.

To unlock the coincidental lock arrangement for normal operation of thevehicle, insertion of the coded key in lock cylinder assembly 23 andsubsequent rotation of core 32 from the Lock position of HO. 6, shiftsthe rack 36 leftwardly initially to the Off position of FIG. 2 removingpin 80 from shoulder 82 and removing lock bolt 20 to a withdrawnposition from keeper plate 2 3. The vehicle operating circuits are thusready for connection in ignition switch 38 by further key rotation ofthe lock cylinder and leftward shifting of operating rod 410, and floorshift console l2 may be selectively removed from its latched condition.Clockwise rotation of the selector lever l6 from Park" removes cam 56from surface 53 of the latch bolt 66 thereby allowing tension spring '78to return blocking member 76 to its blocking position shown in FIG. 2,such motion transferring through core 64 to return the latch bolt to itsunlatched position, FIG. 5. Hooked end 50 is thus removed frominterference with keeper 52 and the selector lever 16 may be moved toany operative position of the transmission such as that indicated inFIG. 5. With the parts in this position, the blocking member 70 is againin position as above-described such that coincidental locking of thesteering column and floor shift locking devices cannot occur untilselector lever 16 is again first placed in Park.

It is to be understood that the coincidental locking arrangementdescribed above in connection with floor shifts for automatictransmissions applies equally 'well to those for manual gear shifttransmissions. In such case, the select lever 16 and latch bolt 46 maybe arranged for latching engagement in a nonforward drive range such asNeutral" or Reverse.

It will further be appreciated that certain modifications of theillustrated preferred embodiment may be made within the general intentthereof such as instead of directly connecting blocking member 70through the control cable assembly to latch bolt 46, an intermediateactuating lever may be so mounted within console 112 that it respondsdirectly to movement of the sector lever between its positions to movethe core 64 and also to actuate the latch bolt 46 between its positions,Likewise, various forms of blocking shoulder arrangements on rack 36 andblocking member 70 are available for use.

Having thus described the invention, what we claimed is:

H. In an automotive vehicle including steering column apparatus providedwith a steering shaft and further including a transmission shiftapparatus mounted on the floor of the vehicle passenger compartment inspaced relation to said steering column, said shift apparatus includinga support housing on the floor and a selector member therein operablyconnected to the vehicle power transmission and movable to selectdifferent operating ranges thereof, steering column and floor shiftlocking apparatus comprising a keeper on said steering shaft, a lockbolt mounted in said steering column for movement between locked andunlocked positions relative to said keeper, lockable manual actuatingmeans mounted on said steering column and operably connected with saidbolt for causing movement thereof between locked and unlocked positions,cooperable latch means on said selector member of said shift apparatusand said housing thereof, said latch means being movable .between alatched position occurring in a predetermined position of said selectorcorresponding to a nonforward drive range of the vehicle powertransmission to hold said selector therein and an unlatched position,lockblocking means mounted in said steering column for movement betweena blocking position preventing movement of said bolt from the unlockedto the locked position thereof by said manual actuating means and anunblocking position, means connecting said blocking means to saidselector member so that movement of the latter to said predeterminedposition thereof causing latching of said cooperable latch means movessaid blocking means from the blocking to the unblocking position thereofpermitting subsequent movement of said lock bolt from the unlocked tothe locked position thereof by said manual actuating means, and meansoperative in response to such movement of said lock bolt to the lockedposition thereof to hold said latch means in the latched positionthereof.

2. In an automotive vehicle including steering column apparatus providedwith a steering shaft and further including a transmission shiftapparatus mounted on the floor of the vehicle passenger compartmentspaced relation with said steering column, said shift apparatusincluding a support housing on the floor and a selector member thereinoperably connected to the vehicle transmission and movable to selectdifferent operating ranges thereof, steering column and floor shiftlocking apparatus comprising a keeper on said steering shaft, a lockbolt mounted in said steering column for movement between locked andunlocked positions relative to said keeper, lockable manual actuatingmeans mounted on said steering column and operably connected with saidbolt for causing movement thereof between locked and unlocked positions,cooperable latch means on said selector member of said shift apparatusand said housing thereof movable between a normal unlatched position anda latched position, means on said latch means and on said selectormember operative to move the former to the latched position thereof inresponse to movement of said selector member to a predetermined positionthereof corresponding to a nonforward drive range of the vehicle powertransmission to hold said selector member therein, lock-blocking meansmounted in said steering column for movement between a blocking positionpreventing movement of said bolt from the unlocked to the lockedposition thereof by said manual actuating means and an unblockingposition, means operatively connecting said blocking means to said latchmeans so that movement of the latter to the latched position thereof inresponse to movement of said selector member to said predeterminedposition thereof induces movement of said blocking means from theblocking to the unblocking position thereof permitting subsequentmovement of said lock bolt from the unlocked to the locked positionthereof by said manual actuating means, and means operative in responseto such movement of said lock bolt to the locked position thereof tohold said latch means in the latched position thereof.

3. In an automotive vehicle including steering column ap-' paratusprovided with a steering shaft and further including a transmissionselector apparatus mounted on the floor of the vehicle passengercompartment in spaced relation with said steering column, said selectorapparatus including a support housing on the floor and a selector membertherein operably connected to the vehicle transmission and movable toselect different operating ranges thereof, steering column and floorshift locking apparatus comprising a keeper on said steering shaft, alock bolt mounted in said steering column for movement between lockedand unlocked positions relative to said keeper, lockable manualactuating means mounted on said steering column and operably connectedwith said bolt for causing movement thereof between locked and unlockedpositions, cooperable latch means on said selector member of said shiftapparatus and said housing thereof movable between a normal unlatchedposition and a latched position, means on said latch means and on saidselector member operative to move the former to the latched positionthereof in response to movement of said selector member to apredetermined position thereof corresponding to a nonforward drive rangeof the vehicle power transmission to hold said selector member therein,lock-blocking means mounted in said steering column for movement betweena blocking position preventing movement of said bolt from the unlockedto the locked position thereof by said manual actuating means and anunblocking position, means operatively connecting said blocking means tosaid latch means so that movement of the latter to the latched positionthereof in response to movement of said selector member to saidpredetermined position thereof induces movement of said blocking meansfrom the blocking to the unblocking position thereof permittingsubsequent movement of said lock bolt from the unlocked to the lockedposition thereof by said manual actuating means, means biasing saidblocking means to the blocking position thereof, said operativeconnecting means being effective to transfer said bias on said blockingmeans to said latch means to bias the latter to the unlatched positionthereof, and cooperating means on said actuating means and said blockingmeans operative in the locked position of said lock bolt to hold said.blocking means in the unblocking position thereof and thereby effectivethrough said operative connecting means to hold said latch means in thelatched position thereof.

4i. In an automotive vehicle including steering column apparatusprovided with a stationary portion rotatably mounted therewithin asteering shaft, and further including a transmission floor shiftapparatus mounted on the floor of the vehicle passenger compartment inspaced relation with said steering column, said floor shift apparatusincluding a support housing on the floor and a selector member thereinoperably connected to the vehicle power transmission and movable toselect different operating ranges thereof, steering column and floorshift locking apparatus comprising a keeper member mounted on saidsteering shaft, a lock bolt mounted slidably in said steering columnstationary portion for movement between locked and unlocked positionsrelative to said keeper member, lockable manual actuating meansincluding a key controlled cylinder lock and sector device and a rackmember connected to said lock bolt and reciprocable within saidstationary portion by rotation of said key-controlled cylinder lock andsector device, ignition switch means connected with the vehicleelectrical ignition circuit and mounted on said steering column, meansconnecting said actuating rack member with said ignition switch means, afork latch bolt rotatably mounted on said floor shift housing, a strikerfixed to said selector member, cam means on said selector memberengageable with said fork bolt upon movement of said selector member toa predetermined position thereof corresponding to a nonforward drivingrange of the vehicle power transmission to move said fork bolt from anormal unlatched position thereof to a latched position in engagementwith said keeper, a blocking member rotatably mounted in said steeringcolumn stationary portion for movement between a blocking and anunblocking position, shoulder means on said blocking member and on saidactuating rack member engageable in the blocking position of saidblocking member to prevent movement of said actuating rack from theunlocked to the locked position of said lock bolt, spring means mountedbetween said stationary portion of said steering column and saidblocking member urging the latter to said blocking position thereof,flexible cable means connecting said blocking member with said fork boltto transfer the bias on said blocking member in a manner to bias saidfork bolt to the unlatched position thereof, said movement of saidselector member to said predetermined position thereof being operativeto transfer motion of said fork bolt to the latched position thereofthrough said connecting means to move said blocking member from theblocking to the unblocking position thereof against the action of saidbiasing means, and further shoulder means on said blocking member andsaid actuating rack operative in the unblocking position of saidblocking member and the locked position of said rack to prevent forcedmovement of said blocking member and said connecting means and said forkbolt as a unit out of the latched position of said fork bolt.

1. In an automotive vehicle including steering column apparatus providedwith a steering shaft and further including a transmission shiftapparatus mounted on the floor of the vehicle passenger compartment inspaced relation to said steering column, said shift apparatus includinga support housing on the floor and a selector member therein operablyconnected to the vehicle power transmission and movable to selectdifferent operating ranges thereof, steering column and floor shiftlocking apparatus comprising a keeper on said steering shaft, a lockbolt mounted in said steering column for movement between locked andunlocked positions relative to said keeper, lockable manual actuatingmeans mounted on said steering column and operably connected with saidbolt for causing movement thereof between locked and unlocked positions,cooperable latch means on said selector member of said shift apparatusand said housing thereof, said latch means being movable between alatched position occurring in a predetermined position of said selectorcorresponding to a nonforward drive range of the vehicle powertransmission to hold said selector therein and an unlatched position,lock-blocking means mounted in said steering column for movement betweena blocking position preventing movement of said bolt from the unlockedto the locked position thereof by said manual actuating means and anunblocking position, means connecting said blocking means to saidselector member so that movement of the latter to said predeterminedposition thereof causing latching of said cooperable latch means movessaid blocking means from the blocking to the unblocking position thereofpermitting subsequent movement of said lock bolt from the unlocked tothe locked position thereof by said manual actuating means, and meansoperative in response to such movement of said lock bolt to the lockedposition thereof to hold said latch means in the latched positionthereof.
 2. In an automotive vehicle including steering column apparatusprovided with a steering shaft and further including a transmissionshift apparatus mounted on the floor of the vehicle passengercompartment spaced relation with said steering column, said shiftapparatus including a support housing on the floor and a selector membertherein operably connected to the vehicle transmission and movable toselect different operating ranges thereof, steering column and floorshift locking apparatus comprising a keeper on said steering shaft, alock bolt mounted in said steering column for movement between lockedand unlocked positions relative to said keeper, lockable manualactuating means mounted on said steering column and operably connectedwith said bolt for causing movement thereof between locked and unlockedpositions, cooperable latch means on said selector member of said shiftapparatus and said housing thereof movable between a normal unlatchedposition and a latched position, means on said latch means and on saidselector member operative to move the former to the latched positionthereof in response to movement of said selector member to apredetermined position thereof corresponding to a nonforward drive rangeof the vehicle power transmission to hold said selector member therein,lock-blocking means mounted in said steering column for movement betweena blocking position preventing movement of said bolt from the unlockedto the locked position thereof by said manual actuating means and anunblocking position, means operatively connecting said blocking means tosaid latch means so that movement of the latter to the latched positionthereof in response to movement of said selector member to saidpredetermined position thereof induces movement of said blocking meansfrom the blocking to the unblocking position thereof permittingsubsequent movement of said lock bolt from the unlocked to the lockedposition thereof by said manual actuating means, and means operative inresponse to such movement of said lock bolt to the locked positionthereof to hold said latch meaNs in the latched position thereof.
 3. Inan automotive vehicle including steering column apparatus provided witha steering shaft and further including a transmission selector apparatusmounted on the floor of the vehicle passenger compartment in spacedrelation with said steering column, said selector apparatus including asupport housing on the floor and a selector member therein operablyconnected to the vehicle transmission and movable to select differentoperating ranges thereof, steering column and floor shift lockingapparatus comprising a keeper on said steering shaft, a lock boltmounted in said steering column for movement between locked and unlockedpositions relative to said keeper, lockable manual actuating meansmounted on said steering column and operably connected with said boltfor causing movement thereof between locked and unlocked positions,cooperable latch means on said selector member of said shift apparatusand said housing thereof movable between a normal unlatched position anda latched position, means on said latch means and on said selectormember operative to move the former to the latched position thereof inresponse to movement of said selector member to a predetermined positionthereof corresponding to a nonforward drive range of the vehicle powertransmission to hold said selector member therein, lock-blocking meansmounted in said steering column for movement between a blocking positionpreventing movement of said bolt from the unlocked to the lockedposition thereof by said manual actuating means and an unblockingposition, means operatively connecting said blocking means to said latchmeans so that movement of the latter to the latched position thereof inresponse to movement of said selector member to said predeterminedposition thereof induces movement of said blocking means from theblocking to the unblocking position thereof permitting subsequentmovement of said lock bolt from the unlocked to the locked positionthereof by said manual actuating means, means biasing said blockingmeans to the blocking position thereof, said operative connecting meansbeing effective to transfer said bias on said blocking means to saidlatch means to bias the latter to the unlatched position thereof, andcooperating means on said actuating means and said blocking meansoperative in the locked position of said lock bolt to hold said blockingmeans in the unblocking position thereof and thereby effective throughsaid operative connecting means to hold said latch means in the latchedposition thereof.
 4. In an automotive vehicle including steering columnapparatus provided with a stationary portion rotatably mountedtherewithin a steering shaft, and further including a transmission floorshift apparatus mounted on the floor of the vehicle passengercompartment in spaced relation with said steering column, said floorshift apparatus including a support housing on the floor and a selectormember therein operably connected to the vehicle power transmission andmovable to select different operating ranges thereof, steering columnand floor shift locking apparatus comprising a keeper member mounted onsaid steering shaft, a lock bolt mounted slidably in said steeringcolumn stationary portion for movement between locked and unlockedpositions relative to said keeper member, lockable manual actuatingmeans including a key controlled cylinder lock and sector device and arack member connected to said lock bolt and reciprocable within saidstationary portion by rotation of said key-controlled cylinder lock andsector device, ignition switch means connected with the vehicleelectrical ignition circuit and mounted on said steering column, meansconnecting said actuating rack member with said ignition switch means, afork latch bolt rotatably mounted on said floor shift housing, a strikerfixed to said selector member, cam means on said selector memberengageable with said fork bolt upon movement of said selector member toa predetermined position thereof correspondiNg to a nonforward drivingrange of the vehicle power transmission to move said fork bolt from anormal unlatched position thereof to a latched position in engagementwith said keeper, a blocking member rotatably mounted in said steeringcolumn stationary portion for movement between a blocking and anunblocking position, shoulder means on said blocking member and on saidactuating rack member engageable in the blocking position of saidblocking member to prevent movement of said actuating rack from theunlocked to the locked position of said lock bolt, spring means mountedbetween said stationary portion of said steering column and saidblocking member urging the latter to said blocking position thereof,flexible cable means connecting said blocking member with said fork boltto transfer the bias on said blocking member in a manner to bias saidfork bolt to the unlatched position thereof, said movement of saidselector member to said predetermined position thereof being operativeto transfer motion of said fork bolt to the latched position thereofthrough said connecting means to move said blocking member from theblocking to the unblocking position thereof against the action of saidbiasing means, and further shoulder means on said blocking member andsaid actuating rack operative in the unblocking position of saidblocking member and the locked position of said rack to prevent forcedmovement of said blocking member and said connecting means and said forkbolt as a unit out of the latched position of said fork bolt.